Integral opener and closure



y 8, 1969 OSAMU MIKI 3,454,190 INTEGRAL OPENER AND CLOSURE. I

Fud July 1, 19 68 Sheet of 2 July 8, 1-969 QSAMU M|K| 3,454,190

INTEGRAL OPENER AND CLOSURE Filed July 1, 1968 Sheet 3 of 2 United States Patent US. Cl. 220-54 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sheet metal can for fluidal product comprising a cylindrical body; a circular bottom end fit on said body at the lower edge of the latter; a circular top end fit on said body at the upper edge of the latter, said top end being provided with shock and distortion absorbing projections and a finger receiving recess which also serves as a shock and distortion absorbing means; and a reusable opener-lid initially fixedly secured to said top end and adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to the top end after once opening of said can to form a dispensing opening in said top end which is adapted to -be repeatedly sealed off by the lid and having a reinforcing means adapted to provide said pivot connection of the lid to the top end, an upwardly bent tab formed at the free end of said lid for cooperation with said finger receiving recess in the top end and guide means for said fluidal product provided on the underside of the lid.

Background of the invention:

In the sheet metal conventional cans for fluidal products, it was necessary to use can openers or specific tools to open such cans for the purpose of dispensing their contents. And especially, if the contents of the conventional sheet metal cans were thick liquids having various high viscosities, when the cans were tilted after they had been opened so as to allow the thick liquids to fiow out of the cans, the liquids frequently spread in undesirable directions as well as one predetermined direction resulting in staining portions of the outside of the cans in the openings including the top ends and for the prevention of such spreading of the liquids it was necessary to provide any specific means. In addition, if the contents of the cans were taken out of the cans by piecemeal, each time portions of the contents were taken out of the cans had to be sealed off with other suitable closures. However, such closures were not fully reliable and frequently allowed to dust and/or-other foreign particles to contaminate the contents.

There have been also proposed sheet metal cans for fluidal products provided with their own attached openers. However, the openers for such cans could be used only once and after once opening of the cans, their openers could not be turned back to the initial closed positions and had to be discarded leaving the cans open. And when the contents of such cans were to be taken out of the cans by piecemeal, the cans had to be also sealed off with other closures as in the case of the cans without their own attached openers. Therefore, also in the containers with their own attached openers, there were difficulties such as invasions of dust and/or other foreign particles resulting in contamination of the contents. And the spreading of the contents as experienced in the cans without their own attached openers was also inevitable in the cans with their own attached openers unless specific means were provided for the prevention of such spreading.

3,454,190 Patented July 8, 1969 Summary of the invention.

The present invention relates to an improved and novel sheet metal can especially useful for receiving and dispensing thick liquid having a high viscosity and more particularly, to an improved and novel reusable lid for such a can which also serves as the opener for the can.

One object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal can for fluidal product which can effectively eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages inherent in the prior art sheet metal cans for fluidal products.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal can especially useful for receiving and dispensing thick liquid having a high viscosity and provided with a reuseable lid which also serves as the opener for the can.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal can especially useful for receiving and dispensing thick liquid having a high viscosity and provided with a reusable lid which also serves as the opener for the can and is provided with an upwardly bent finger tab in which when the liquid content of the can is desired to be taken out thereof the lid is pulled up by means of the finger tab while separating a portion of the top end of the can from the remaining top end portion thereby to form a dispensing opening in the top end.

According to the present invention, the reusable openerlid is further provided on the underside with a pair of parallel and spaced projections extending in the longitudinal direction of the lid and the projections define a fluid passage or groove in a trough form therebetween whereby a flow of the liquid content coming out of the can may be easily guided in one direction only along the passage defined by the projections resulting in prevention of the spreading of the liquid in undesired directions which may stain portions of the outside of the can.

The reusable opener-lid which is formed of the same sheet metal as that of the can is so constructed that the opener-lid is initially fixedly secured to the top end of the can, but once the can is opened by pulling the lid up so as to separate a portion of the top end from the remaining top end portion to form a dispensing opening in the top panel, the lid is pivotally connected to the top end for uncovering and sealing-off of the dispensing opening. Therefore, if the liquid content is taken out of the can by piecemeal the opener-lid can be turned back to its closed position each time a piecemeal portion of the liquid has been taken out of the container thereby to prevent dust or other foreign particles invading into the can. In order to assure such reuse of the opener-lid and to hold the lid in the closed position, the position of the liquid passage defining projections on the underside of the lid is so selected that the outer edges of the projections may snugly fit the opposite side edges of the once formed dispensing opening in the top and every time the openerlid is turned back to its closed position. The projections also serve as means for absorbing any external shock and/ or distortion forces to which the can and the tab of the lid may be subjected during the storage and opening of the can. Such external forces generally tend to cause the can and tab to break and/ or distort.

The application of the novel and improved sheet metal can is not limited to the receiving and dispensing of only thick liquids having high viscosities, but the can is also useful for receiving and dispensing other liquid products for example, such as various drinks, oils and fats, lubricants, paints, detergents, medical fluids and the like.

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product comprising a cylindrical body; a circular bottom panel fit on said body at the lower edge of the latter; a

circular top panel fit on said body at the upper edge of the latter, said top end being provided with shock and distortion absorbing upward projections and a finger receiving recess which also serves as a shock and distortion absorbing means; and a reusable open-lid initially fixedly secured to said top end and adapted to be pivotally con nected at one end to the top end after once opening of said can to provide a dispensing opening in said top end which dispensing opening is adapted to be repeatedly sealed off and uncovered .by the pivotal movement of said opener-lid with respect to the top end and having a reinforcing means adapted to provide said pivotal movement of the lid with respect to the top end, an upwardly bent tab formed at the other or free end of said lid for cooperation with said finger recess and guide means for said fiuidal product provided on the underside of the lid.

The above and other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which constitute part of this specification.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet metal can for fiuidal product having a reusable opener-lid according to the present invention showing said opener-lid in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taking substantially along the line AB of FIG. 1 and as seen in the arrow direction therein and showing the lid in its closed state;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line CD of FIG. 1 and as seen in the arrow direction therein and showing the reusable opener-lid in its closed position;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line C-E of FIG. 1 and as seen in the arrow direction therein showing the lid in its opened position; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reusable openerlid showing the lid in its fully opened state together with the upper portion of the can.

Preferred embodiment of the invention The present invention will be now described referring to the various figures of the accompanying drawings in which one preferred form of sheet metal can for fiuidal product embodying the present invention is illustrated together with a reusable opener-lid. The illustrated can is entirely formed of the same type of sheet metal such as aluminum as generally used in the art and generally comprises an ordinary cylindrical body 1, an ordinary circular bottom panel fit on the body at the lower edge of the body (not shown) and a specific circualr top panel 2 fit on the body at the upper edge of the body with which a reusable opener-lid, which will be in detail described hereinafter, cooperates. The reusable opener-lid is formed of the same material as that of the can and is generally indicated with reference numeral 10. The opener-lid is initially formed as being fixedly secured to the top end 2 (before the opener-lid 10 is opened for the first time), that is, a piece of sheet metal stock cut to a suitable circular shape for forming the top end of the can so as to have a diameter somewhat larger than that of the can body 1 and a piece of the same type sheet metal stock cut to a substantially smaller rectangular shape suitable for forming the opener-lid are cold pressed together in a suitable press using a pair of mating metal patterns having specific compensating configurations so as to form an integral top end and opener-lid unit. The thus cold-press formed top end 2 and opener-lid 10 will have specific elements which will be in detail described hereinafter. After a desired fluidal product has been placed into the can which has the bottom end, the integral top end and opener-lid unit is fit on the upper edge of the cylindrical body 1 with the downwardly bent peripheral edge 3 which extends normal to the plane of the top end snugly embracing the body upper edge. Also by the cold-pressing operation, the entire area of the top end 2 is disposed in a plane somewhat below the plane in which the top peripheral edge of the body 1 lies.

The thus formed and fit top end 2 has a pair of parallel and spaced projections 4 and 4 having the same length and height each of which is laterally spaced from each adjacent side of the thus formed and secured openerlid 10 (the elements of the lid provided by the abovementioned cold-pressing will be in detail described hereinafter) and the projections rise slightly above the upper surface of the top end 2 extending radially and inwardly from points adjacent to the peripheral edge of the top end. The top end 2 also has a substantially annular projection 12 rising above the upper surface of the top end 2 in substantially the same height as the pair of projections 4 and 4 in a position spaced inwardly of the periphery of the top end 2 by a distance greater than the distance of the outer ends of the pair of projections 4 and 4 from the top end periphery. The substantially annular projection 5 extends in parallel to the top end periphery in a constant space relation with the periphery and the 0pposite ends of the projection 5 terminate short of the positions of the opposite pair of projections 4 and 4. Also formed on the top end 2 is a substantially rectangular finger receiving recess 6 and the center recess is provided substantially in the center of the top end 2 adjacent to and spaced inwardly of the upwardly bent free end of the opener-lid 10 for cooperation with the lid free end in the manner as described hereinafter.

The cold pressed and secured opener-lid 10 has a tab 11 formed at the upwardly bent end and a pair of parallel and spaced recesses 12 and 12 projecting onto the underside of the opener-lid 10 in positions spaced inwardly of the opposite side edges of the lid and the recesses extend in the longitudinal direction of the opener-lid from substantially the center of the length of the lid and terminate short of the tab 11. As mentioned above, the opener-lid 10 is initially secured to the top end 2 in a fixed relation thereto by means of a substantially U-shaped recess 13 formed in the opener-lid 10 and having a dome-shape cross section (see FIG. 2) and a corresponding U-shape recess or thinned portion 7 formed in the top end 2 and also having a dome-shape cross section (see FIG. 2). The recess 13 in the opener-lid 10 and the recess 7 in the top end 2 are formed in a snugly fit or in a close contact overlapping relation during the cold pressing-operation as mentioned hereinabove. The above are the constructions and arrangements of the various elements of both the top end 2 and opener-lid 10 as just formed by the cold-pressing operation. The above-mentioned parallel and spaced projections 12 and 12 define a trough-type groove or liquid passage 15 therebetween along which the content of the can may flow in one predetermined direction only.

When it is desired to use the content of the can such as a thick liquid having a very high viscosity, the user grips the opener-lid 10 by the upwardly bent tab 11 to an angle of about or more with respect to the plane of the top end with his two fingers which are usually the thumb and forefinger and pulls the opener-lid upwardly away from the upper surface of the top end 2. Such gripping of the lid 10 can be greatly assisted by the center finger receiving recess 6 in the top end 2 with one of the two fingers of the user placed in the recess 6. For the purpose, the bottom of the recess 6 and the underside of the tab 11 are spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to allow one finger to enter the space between the recess and tab. When the opener-lid 10 is upwardly pulled in the manner mentioned just above, the domeshape cross section area 8 included within the U-shape recess or thinned portion 7 in the top end 2 which snugly fits on. the U-shape recess 13 in the opener-lid 10 is also pulled upwardly so as to be separated from the remaining top end portion thereby to leave a dispensing opening 9 in the top end 2 through which the content is allowed to flow out of the can. It should be understood that the thus pulled opener-lid has not been completely separated from the top end 2, but is still connected to the latter at the point indicated with reference numeral 14 which forms a pivot point about which the opener-lid 10 can swing. Thereafter, the user tilts the can with the opener-lid 10 directing downwardly so that the thick liquid from within the can first enters the arcuate concave area 8 included within the U-shaped thinned portion 7 and then flows along the groove or guide passage defined by the parallel projections 12 and 12 into another container or the like (not shown) which is to receive the liquid. Thus, it will be understood that the thick liquid may be effectively prevented from spreading in undesirable directions during its transfer from the can to the other container or the like. In the conventional cans for thick liquid which are not provided with such a liquid guide means which constitutes one important feature of the present invention, the thick liquid would frequently spread in undersirable directions resulting in staining of portions of the outside of the can. The position of the above-mentioned parallel projections 12 and 12 is so selected that when the dispensing opening 9 has been once formed in the top panel 2 in the manner as mentioned above the outer side edges of the projections 12 may concide with the opposite side edges of the dispensing opening 9 for the purpose to be described hereinafter. As mentioned above, the opener-lid 10 can be repeatedly used by turning back the same to its closed position each time a predetermined amount of the liquid has been transferred from the can to the other container, for example. Such turning-back of the opener-lid 10 is facilitated by means of the connection point 14 which serves as a pivot about which the lid can swing .and the swing movement of the opener-lid can be repeated until the can has been completely emptied. Furthermore, in addition to the provision of the guide passage or groove 15, because of their position with respect to the dispensing opening 9 as described hereinabove the parallel projections 12 and 12 on the underside of the opener-lid 10 also provide snap hooks which firmly hold the opener-lid 10 in its closed position when the lid has been turned back after the opener-lid has been opened whereby the remaining liquid within the can can be effectively prevented from contamination with dust and other foreign particles which will otherwise invade into the can by the dispensing opening. The pivot connection 14 is provided so as to give a substantial reinforcing strength to the openerlid because of the double construction formed by the correspondingly dome-shape cross section of the area 8 of the top panel 2 and the area of the opener-lid overlying the area 8. The strength of the pivot connection 14 provided by such as double constriction is sufiicient to allow the repeated swing movement of the opener-lid 10 for uncovering and closing the dispensing opening 9 until the exhaustion of the content of the can. The abovementioned parallel projections 4 and 4 and annular projection 5 serve as reinforcing means for the top panel 2 because when the opener-lid 10 is forcibly opened the projections may effectively absorb shock and distortion forces which may take place and distort the top end 2 both during the cold pressing and the opening of the opener-lid 10. The above-mentioned center recess 6 also serves for the same purpose as the parallel projections 4 and 4 and annular projection 5 as mentioned above.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numeral changes in the details of construction and .arrangernent of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product comprising a cylindrical body; a circular bottom end fit on said body at the lower edge of the latter; a circular top end fit on said body at the upper edge of the latter, said top end being provided with shock and distortion absorbing upward projections and a finger receiving recess which also serves as a shock and distortion absorbing means; and a reusable opener-lid initially fixedly secured to said top end and adapted to be pivotal-ly connected at one end to the top end for pivotal movement with respect to the top end after once opening of said can to provide a dispensing opening in said top end which is adapted to be repeatedly uncovered and sealed off by the pivotal movement of said opener-lid with respect to the top end and having a reinforcing means adapted to provide said pivotal movement of the lid, an upwardly bent tab formed at the other or free end of said lid for cooperation wi.h said finger receiving recess and guide means for said fluidal product provided on the underside of the lid.

2. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product as set forth in claim 1, in which said top end and said opener-lid are secured together by coldpressing.

3. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product as set forth in claim 1, in which said can and said opener-lid are formed of the same type sheet metal material.

4. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product as set forth in claims 1 and 2, in which said dispensing opening is formed by separating a portion of the material of said top end from the remaining top end material along a substantially U-shape thinned portion formed during said cold-pressing of the top end and opener-lid.

S. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product as set forth in claims 1, 2 and 4, in which the area included within said U-shape thinned portion is press-fit within an area of said opener-lid overlying said first-mentioned area and both said areas have an upwardly bulged dome-shape cross section.

6. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product as set forth in claim 1, in which said shock and distortion absorbing projections in the top end comprise a pair of parallel and spaced projections extending radially and inwardly adjacent to and spaced from the opposite side edges of said dispensing opening and a substantially annular projection extending in parallel to and spaced inwardly of the upper peripheral edge of said top end and having the opposite ends which terminate short of said parallel and spaced projections.

7. A sheet metal can for receiving and dispensing fluidal product as set forth in claim 1, in which the bottom of said finger recess on the top end and the underside of said tab on the opener-lid are spaced from each other by a distance sufi'lcient to admit one human finger to enter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,327,891 6/1967 Smyth 220-54 3,404,800 10/1968 Arvert 22054 GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

